World Premiere of Concerto by Dave Flynn featuring Martin Hayes

The extraordinary fiddle player Martin Hayes is one of the most remarkable musicians to come out of Ireland in the last 50 years. He joins the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for the first time for an unmissable evening at the National Concert Hall on Wednesday, 24 November. A highlight will be the world premiere of Dave Flynn's Aontacht (Unity): A Concerto for Traditional Irish Musician and Orchestra, commissioned by RTÉ especially for Martin and the RTÉ CO.

A concert by Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill ten years ago prompted Dave Flynn's own exploration of Irish music. He likens the orchestra in this concerto to a combination of Leo Rowsome's uilleann pipes, Dennis Cahill's guitar, Steve Reich's ensemble and Arvo Pärt's strings, a huge, accompanying instrument, unifying with and supporting the soloist.

For the fiddle part, he looked to music that inspired Martin Hayes: 'The emotive, innovative fiddle playing of Tommy Potts and Paddy Canny, the meandering, melancholy melodies of Paddy Fahey and Ed Reavy. It is from these great unsung Irish composers that I have found my melodic inspiration.'

The concert will also include a set by Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Flynn's Music for the Departed, featuring Hayes, Cahill and violinist Brona Cahill, and orchestral pieces by Arvo Pärt, all under the RTÉ CO's Principal Conductor David Brophy.

To hear Dave Flynn’s thoughts on this piece visit the CMC homepage: http://www.cmc.ie/

Programme for the evening:

Dave Flynn The Man from Maghera Rambles through Africa

Set by Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill

Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

Dave Flynn Music for the Departed

Arvo Pärt Fratres

Dave Flynn Aontacht (Unity): A Concerto for Traditional Irish Musician and Orchestra (world premiere - RTÉ commission)

Tickets: €11, €22, €27, €33, €38 (concessions €10, €20, €24, €30, €34)

Booking: 01 417 0000 or online www.nch.ie